Too bad.
It appears that Michael alone is left to carry on the conservative tradition of his Dad … and that wouldn’t be so bad. He’s not his Dad, but he’s a more than adequate torch-bearer.
IMO, the circumstances surrounding Nancy’s refusal to attend the Republican National Convention and Ron’s speaking at the Democrat Display of Diabolism exhibit two entirely different leanings.
Although I am convinced that fetal tissue stem cell research must not be condoned under any circumstances, and neither does it offer significant hope in the search for a cure for Alzheimer’s (many other avenues of research are far more promising), I do not fault Nancy for her defense of it.
I have never believed that Nancy Reagan completely embraced her husband’s political conservatism (as a matter of fact, the extent that she did so was most likely out of love and respect for him). But I do believe she will attempt to honor him in death by toning down her own liberal leanings – except perhaps where Alzheimers research is concerned. And I, for one, can forgive her that.
When one experiences the kind of extended trauma that Nancy did in serving as the primary care-giver, while intimately watching her beloved husband succumb to the ravages of Alzheimers, I would imagine the resulting view of the world becomes somewhat ‘distorted’ by that experience. Surely few of us can identify with the pain she endured. Speaking for myself, any hardships or burdens I have ever carried pale in comparison with what this woman endured for the last ten years. Although I will never agree with them, and will speak out against their realization, I don’t fault Nancy for her views on stem cell research, which are surely the result of her deep personal tragedy.
Ron Reagan is another story. For the past two decades, the man has made a career out of embarrassing and hurting his father, making a fool out of himself, and now is allowing himself to be cast as a useful idiot by his father’s (and America’s) political enemies.
My husband purchased a set of three C-Span DVDs for me, which arrived a couple of days ago. They contain dozens of President Reagan’s most historic speeches and a ‘commemoration video’ of all of the week’s funeral and memorial services. I don’t intend to re-live the memorial/funeral week anytime soon (but, years from now, surely will feel up to watching those moving images again), but I spent the last two evenings watching the speeches -- which span the years leading up to his presidency, and the glorious eight years themselves … I also watched part of Ron Jr.’s speech last night.
That will most likely be the last time I ever listen to Junior speak. He is a glaring example of the fact that the apple can occasionally fall light-years from the tree. And the fact that either (1) his political leanings more closely mirror his mother’s than his father’s, or (2) as an infant, he was dropped on his head from a height of some significance.
~ joanie